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Monday, February 23, 2015

Surprisingly effective pain relief

Many times after a very intense karate class my Grand Master instructor (who is an 8th degree black belt) will sit us down and talk about the importance of not only our fighting skills, but also cross-training, awareness, avoidance of dangerous situations, etc.

Then he has us stand back up and line up according to rank so we can formally bow out of class.

And that’s when you hear all the grunting and groaning! We’ve all worked our bodies so hard that once we sit down, it’s tough to get back up again…and we always get a good laugh out of each other’s grunts.

Now, being a little tired or sore after a very vigorous workout is one thing, but sadly for many people, chronic ongoing pain is a regular thing.

Now, pain in and of itself isn’t a true condition—rather, it’s a symptom or a way of your body telling you that something isn’t quite right.

Let’s take a look at what pain is all about, explore some surprising causes of it, and talk about some very effective (and safe!) ways you can make a difference in how you feel without having to resort to pain drugs.

The two types of pain

There are two basic types of pain—acute and chronic.

Acute pain is brief and short-term in nature--typically lasting a few days to a few weeks. It's usually the result of a minor injury or overuse.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain lasting three months or more, and it's not necessarily the result of one specific injury.

It can be caused by a long history of overuse as well as conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, soft tissue damage, cancer, depression or the big culprit—inflammation.

Chronic pain is tougher to treat and doesn't always respond to the typical treatment options. Depending on the underlying cause, sometimes surgery is performed but even then there's no guarantee the pain won't come back.

Anti-inflammatories are most often used and may provide initial relief, but then your body becomes "resistant" to the drug's efforts and then stronger drugs are needed.

This can become a vicious cycle where increasingly stronger and stronger drugs may be needed to achieve the same relief.

And that doesn't come without a price, my friend.

Because as you take stronger and stronger pain relievers, you're looking at stronger side effects, a good chance of developing gastritis and/or GI bleeding and a risk of drug dependence to add more misery on to your misery!

If you suffer from chronic pain, first and foremost, see a doctor to rule out any underlying condition that must be treated.

But if your chronic pain can’t really be tied to any set condition, then it’s time to take the bull by the horns yourself.

You see, you can help YOUR body feel a whole lot better by doing some digging and looking at what may be causing or worsening your pain.

Then DO something about it!

Here are six causes or contributing factors behind chronic pain that you might not be aware of, as well as how you help turn each of them around FAST:

1- Lacking sleep

According to recent research from Great Britain, poor or insufficient sleep was a very strong predictor for pain in adults over 50.

It’s easy to see why. Your circadian rhythm (aka your sleep-wake cycle) actually influences the rhythms of the biological activity of all your cells…so if your sleep habits are not-so-good, restless or otherwise interrupted, that can affect the health of ALL of your cells.

And lead to chronic pain over time.

Plus poor sleep patterns can also cause or contribute to the following:

Increased risk of heart disease and cancer

Impaired neuron (nerve cell) production in your brain

Trigger constant feelings of hunger, which can in turn lead to weight gain

Interfere with your growth hormone production, which can contribute to premature aging

If you’re a Night Owl, time to start hitting the hay a little earlier.

Also, avoid caffeine drinks, alcohol and exercising too close to bedtime, because all three can interrupt sleep.

If stress is making you stare at the ceiling, look at ways to de-stress and calm things down in your life.

Melatonin and tryptophan supplements can also be helpful.

2- Dehydration

This is another cause of chronic pain that doesn’t occur to most people.

Dehydration doesn’t just manifest itself as thirst, dark urine or fatigue during workouts.

Dehydration can also eventually cause muscle weakness, and when the muscles surrounding and supporting your bones and joints are involved, that can lead to chronic pain.

Take an honest look at your beverage habits. If Jimmy Carter was President the last time you drank anything but coffee, soda or alcohol, or your urine is dark yellow all day long (and not just first thing in the morning), chances are excellent you may be dehydrated.

Try to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water (NOT juice, sports drinks or other “health” beverages—just plain WATER) a day and see what a difference it can make in your level of pain.

3- Anxiety and depression

Although anxiety and depression are mainly psychological conditions, your brain’s functioning can affect your entire body—and can eventually result in chronic pain.

If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, it’s crucial to seek treatment with a skilled counselor or therapist.

Having a healthy diet is also important, as many nutrient deficiencies--especially B vitamins, magnesium, calcium and zinc--can cause or worsen depression and anxiety. (More on that below.)

4- Chronic inflammation

This is far and away the most common culprit behind chronic pain of ALL kinds.

Ours is a society that is rampant with chronic inflammation, which is mainly the result of our diets—specifically eating inflammation-causing foods and meals and getting too few of the Omega-3 essential fatty acids that our bodies need to control inflammation.

So to end chronic inflammation at its very root causes (as well as ease the resulting aches and pains!), it’s essential to have an anti-inflammatory diet and get the Omega-3 fatty acids your body needs!

That just involves 2 simple steps:

1. Eat for low inflammation

All you need to know about an anti-inflammatory diet is right in the pages of the Great Taste No Pain

Both system stress eating delicious real foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, while avoiding the processed and fast foods that are laced with inflammation-causing chemicals and trans-fats.

Plus both systems show you what foods to pair together in meals for more efficient digestion, better nutrient absorption and prevention of the inflammatory acid waste buildup that comes about from poor digestion.

And here's an added bonus--eating this way can also help greatly reduce digestive problems like gas, bloating, acid reflux and constipation too!

Because both Great Taste No Pain and Great Taste No Gluten come with a collection of recipes that are loaded with scrumptious, easy to prepare dishes that will make your taste buds.

Plus many of the dishes feature natural anti-inflammatory herbs and spices like garlic, ginger, cinnamon and turmeric.

2. Get enough Omega-3 essential fatty acids

A deficiency in Omega-3 essential fatty acids is a major cause of inflammation.

Here’s why:

In an ideal world, Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids works together in harmony in your body to help you deal with temporary challenges like wounds or injuries.

Omega-6 EFAs stir up inflammation, which sounds the signal for the healing process to begin. And once healing is underway, Omega-3 EFAs come in and calm everything down.

But what messes up this efficient process is when you have too many inflammation-causing Omega-6 EFAs in your system, but not enough anti-inflammatory Omega-3s. Then you're practically putting out the welcome mat for chronic inflammation.

Since our typical modern diets are LOADED with Omega-6 EFAs and seriously lacking Omega-3 EFAs, most people have a serious imbalance going on...

The ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 EFAs should be between 1:1 and 5:1.

But most people with a typical modern diet have ratios between 10:1 and 20:1 or worse.

Those eating lots of processed foods, fast food and trans-fats could have ratios as high as 50:1 or worse!

So in addition to eating an anti-inflammatory diet with Great Taste No Pain or (for gluten-sensitive people) Great Taste No Gluten, it's crucial to make sure your Omega-3 supply is where it should be with a quality, potent fish oil supplement like VitalMega-3.

Volumes of studies continue to support fish oil's capability to safely and naturally help reduce inflammation and the many health problems it can cause.

Including chronic pain!

5- Consider possible B12 deficiency

Most people don’t realize there is a connection between being low in Vitamin B12 and chronic pain.

You see, B12 is crucial in supporting your nervous system, and it helps to maintain the myelin sheath which coats and protects your nerve cells.

Since pain is frequently the result of nerve inflammation, B12 with its "nerve-soothing" properties can actually help encourage pain reduction.

If you've got chronic pain it may behoove you to see if Vitamin B12 deficiency may be a factor!

And if you’re looking for supplementation with a quality product, Hydroxaden 2.5 is your ticket.

Hydroxaden 2.5 is a Vitamin B12 spray that you simply spray right under your tongue each day. The B12 can be quickly absorbed right into your bloodstream where it's needed through the mucus membranes in your mouth.

A B12 spray like Hydroxaden 2.5 can be more efficient than oral supplements (which can have varying absorbency rates depending on your level of stomach acid), and is a lot less costly and more comfortable than B12 shots!

And Hydroxaden 2.5 gives you a daily dose of one of the top forms of Vitamin B12—hydroxocobalamin.

6- Lacking movement

Exercise is crucial in halting and preventing inflammation and pain, especially musculoskeletal pain.

Strength training (weights), stretching and water workouts (swimming or water aerobics) all provide unique benefits.

Arthritis patients who do strength-training report significantly less pain compared to non-strength trainers. The reason is simple--the stronger the muscles are around your joints, the more pressure they take off your joints.

Gentle stretching and yoga can improve flexibility and increase range of motion.

And water activities can take stress off your joints, block some of the pain sensation, loosen stiff joints and strengthen muscles.

Say goodbye to chronic pain once and for all!

Don’t think that suffering from chronic pain and an endless cycle of painkillers and nasty side effects is your destiny for one minute longer!

Because when you look at ALL the possible factors that may be behind YOUR pain, and take safe, natural measures to counteract them, a whole new life free of chronic pain can become YOUR reality.

Try it now and see what a difference it can make for YOU!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.

1 comment:

Spine injuries can lead to chronic pain, which in turn may cause feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelessness. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3 months or longer. It can make you sleep poorly, feel tired and irritable, and have a hard time being active or working. Healthy thinking can take away barriers to being physically active, such as discouraging thoughts. This helps because chronic pain can also improve with physical activity, such as walking and swimming. Las Vegas Back Doctor